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Although routine clinical laboratories around the world have processed an estimated several thousand diagnostic specimens from patients with SARS, no cases of SARS-CoV disease among laboratory workers performing diagnostic assays have been reported to date. However, there have been two reported cases of SARS-CoV disease in workers in research laboratories where SARS-CoV was being propagated. Until more information about the transmission of SARS-CoV in the laboratory setting is known, precautions should be taken in handling specimens (e.g., respiratory and stool specimens, unfixed lung tissue, viral cultures) that might contain large quantities of SARS-CoV.

Effective and timely communication between clinical and laboratory staff is essential to minimize the risk incurred in handling specimens from patients with possible SARS-CoV disease. Such specimens should be labeled accordingly, and the laboratory should be alerted to ensure proper specimen handling. Biosafety guidelines for handling SARS-CoV specimens, by specimen type, are provided below.

To date, little is known about pathogenic potential and transmission dynamics of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV). Until more information becomes available, precautions should be taken in collecting and handling specimens that ...

14:10 EST (02:10 PM EST) : CDCHAN-00170-03-12-17-ADV-N : On December 17, 2003, the Taiwanese Department of Health reported a single case of infection with SARSassociated coronavirus (SARS-CoV) in a research scientist in Taiwan. The press release from...

members of the SARS Research Group of the National Taiwan University. National Taiwan University Hospital.

Published:

Jul 2004

Source:

Emerg Infect Dis. 10(7):1213-1219.

Description:

The severe acute respiratory syndrome-associated coronavirus (SARS-CoV) is thought to be transmitted primarily through dispersal of droplets, but little is known about the load of SARS-CoV in oral droplets. We examined oral specimens, including throa...

To better assess the risk for transmission of the severe acute respiratory syndrome-associated coronavirus (SARS-CoV), we obtained serial specimens and clinical and exposure data from seven confirmed U.S. SARS patients and their 10 household contacts...

Background. First identified and reported in September 2012 as an agent causing severe acute respiratory illness, Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV) has caused infections worldwide, including in the United States. To date all rep...